This is my grad school

It would seem I still have a lot of friends and followers that think this trip of mine is just a joy trip. A lot of money for a lot of fun. Well, you’re wrong. This year of travel I’ve got ahead of me is my grad school. You may be paying $20,000/year to get a degree; I’m spending a similar amount and getting just as much out of it. Maybe it’s not a piece of paper I can frame, but the skills & qualifications are still there.

It’s a matter of priorities

Maybe the best thing for your future is a prestigious University degree. But that’s not the case for everyone. Some of us don’t need nor want a graduate degree. For me and my career plan, it’s not necessary yet. However, the skills I’m learning on this trip are absolutely invaluable to my future career goals. This is just what made the most sense for me right now. As I’m sure grad school makes sense for you.

But aren’t you just having fun taking in the sights?

Yes. And I’m allowed to. When else will I be in Egypt or Jordan or Spain? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I’m taking every advantage I can get. You’ve got your leisure time as well. Weekend trips and nights out on the town, I’m sure. I just happen to already be abroad, so can spend my free time in ancient cities and famous museums. I happen to pick up quite a bit of cultural history I couldn’t get anywhere else, too.

But don’t you just go out drinking all the time?

Sometimes, yes. And that’s part of the experience as well. I’m learning skills I’ve never had before and never had the opportunity (or courage) to learn. But when traveling, I have to. I get to learn about Finland & Colombia & Oregon & Australia. I get to meet people of all different backgrounds. I’m more extroverted than ever. More willing to trust strangers and understand their culture. These aren’t easy experiences to come across and I get to do it every single day.

Are you convinced?

Probably not. From the outside, I understand this looks like all fun and games. But that’s why I’m here and you’re there. We’ve different ideas for ourselves and our futures. It’s whatever makes sense for you. For me, my $20,000 is being spent in the best possible way—for myself, my mind, my body, my career. And I hope you feel the same way about your decision.

And stop calling me lucky. Was it luck that got you into grad school? No. It was hard work, dedication and a whole lot of cash.

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It’s a great experience I’m sure but I’m going to try and do both. The only difference is I don’t have to pay for grad school so instead I’m putting that money into savings to travel…and maybe pay off my undergrad. Travel on friend!

Perfectly stated! Not only is this adventure going to provide you with valuable skills for your career goals, but it’s also going to open up endless opportunities that you would never have stumbled upon had you not traveled. And that alone is worth more than the $20,000 or the piece of the paper…

Thanks Sofia,
While I agree that a RTW trip is not a vacation in any way, I don’t think travel is for everyone. Just like not everyone aspires to get a graduate degree, some people just don’t want to travel. And that’s okay! So long as they see and understand that travel doesn’t have to be just a lot of fun—it’s work, too.

Hey Christine, travel is definitely a good teacher. Not sure if it’s the greatest, but it’s way up there. Breaking out of my comfort zone, however, is probably the greatest thing I could have done. It’s changed my life.

Megan,
You have absolutely nothing to worry about as far as traveling negatively affecting your future career. That’s my point. The skills I’m learning now on my RTW are just as useful for my career as graduate school. Especially when you consider all the work blogging requires.

Great way to “frame” it, Adam. This trip will change you in ways you can’t even imagine right now. It’ll shift all your choices from this point forward in your life. Here’s wishing you Godspeed. *smile*

Although I’m doing my trip after getting a post-graduate degree, I totally know what you mean. Though in my case, people ask me if I’m worried about what not working for a year will do for my career. I think I am kind of working though! The sorts of skills you pick up and the challenges you face while on the road aren’t that much different to what you’d be learning in a work environment – you’re just learning them and facing them in a different (and more exciting?) way.

And when I come home and I’m looking for a job, you can bet I’ll be using examples from my travels in job interviews to illustrate my skills – not just from my previous jobs.

Anonymous

12 August 2010

Totally agree with you! There is no better way to learn about life than by traveling. Traveling teaches you all those things that schools never can do, life skills that are invaluable for a career. A round the world trip is no vacation in any way, I think everyone would do better in their careers and lives if they went traveling.

theroamantics

11 August 2010

hey adam! wealthy europeans of yesteryear recognized the value in sending their kids off in pursuit of an education via traveling, and why not? what better way to learn than to experience rather than just read about what someone else witnesses? and to get our assumptions challenged repeatedly and come away with a broader, less ethnocentric worldview? i say good on you my fellow bostonian ;)

and in regards to being called lucky- i agree. it takes away the credit you deserve for taking this leap and makes it seem like you’ve had the good fortune to be wired genetically different from those who don’t…but that might make them feel better about not making the leap themselves :)
happy trails!

Anonymous

11 August 2010

I completely agree that travel is life’s greatest teacher. Sometimes I feel like my life didn’t really start until I left my safe corner of the US and jumped out of my comfort zone. Cheers to you and safe travels!

Share away, Jaime! I kinda figure that within the travel circle, just about everyone would agree. Of course we all want to think what we’re doing is worthwhile. But I definitely feel that others cannot discount what you’re doing without knowing what it entails. Travel sure looks (and is!) a lot of fun, but it’s a lot of work, too.

Im gonna have to share this with a few of my friends. They are going off to med school, law school or already knee deep in the careers they have chosen & well im going to see the world. That will be my grad school. WOW I LOVE THIS!!! Thanks for a great post.

I love this because it pretty much encapsulated my way of thinking. A lot of my friends are pouring massive amounts of money into grad school while I plan this trip and blog. I think that a lot of real life education happens outside the classroom, and just because you don’t have a fancy degree at the end doesn’t mean you won’t have a LOT to show for yourself.

Dearest Adam, it was absolutely painful to read this because we know what you’re saying, the perception, and the process all too well. You know you’ve got sympathetic ears with us! Keep on rockin your life, buddy. If you don’t, no one else will. :)

Good call on this one Adam. Not everyone wants or needs to go to grad school. But,you are, in a way enrolled in one of the world’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning: The School of Life. At The School of Life, you will learn how to think independently in a variety of situations, be confronted with strange new [insert whatever you want here], and you will take away from these experiences a degree in Get Real. Continue having awesome fun, it’s the only prerequisite you need to earn your Honors credits!

Brittney

10 August 2010

You're right, I'd never choose a cubicle life either! Hence the stressful path toward a better degree, because my bachelors in psychology would almost guarantee me a generic cubicle job.

Anonymous

10 August 2010

I don’t think there’s a better degree out there than traveling. This post reminds me of how people respond when I tell them what I do for a living (travel writing for newspapers and magazines); sure it’s fun, but there’s also a great deal of work (and learning) that does go into it! Just like anything. Keep it up–I’m loving your trip!

Brittney

10 August 2010

You're funny! Ok if you really want to be a grad student, write a research paper on the cultural differences you have encountered so far and how this knowledge can promote better worldwide communication.

Yeah you're right about stress in traveling – Colin and I are going backpacking in Colorado next week and I'm already stressing out! I plan to buy bear spray at REI sometime this week.

Haha, thanks for commenting Brittney. You're right that there are certain environmental differences between our two paths, but I think you'd find parts of traveling equally stressful. There are days of too many sights to care about, simultaneously blogging, demanding immigration officers, boring people and days (yes, sometimes even full days) stuck on a crowded bus. Luckily for me, there aren't many research papers to write!

That's my type of 'grad school,' though, and I wouldn't give it up for the world! Oh wait— it is the world!

NickLaborde

10 August 2010

I've never looked at it like that before. People don't have a problem shelling out thousands and thousands dollars for school. If you spend that same money on real world education, your crazy or lucky.

Luck is just an excuse for not taking action.

NickLaborde

10 August 2010

Stress is expensive, I can't imagine paying for that experience.

Following the crowd on the path to cubicle nation, is a choice. We all have to live with our decisions, there is more then one option. Adam just happened to choose a different one.

Brittney

10 August 2010

This makes it seem like you're getting a lot of flack for your trip, maybe from grad students?. I get what you're saying and why you feel like you need to justify it, but until you're about to pull your hair out over the stress of too many classes, simultaneous job, demanding authority figures, uninteresting research, and no free time to enjoy the sights because you're in a building all day long staring at your next partially completed 20 page paper that's due the next morning, I don't don't you've really had the grad student experience! Nice try though! :P

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Who is Adam?

In 2010 I quit my job as a graphic designer in Boston and went on a 15+ month trip around the world. The journey took me to places like North Africa, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia. Since 2011 I’ve been living in Berlin—Europe’s most hipster city.

Travels of Adam wants to explore the world from the quirky to the amazing. It’s all about my personal experiences and alternative & indie travel tips from around the world. To learn more, read how Iceland changed my life.

Where's he going?

• Berlin for the ITB travel trade show
• London to see some theatre and eat some fish & chips (and mushy peas!)
• Illinois (including Chicago, Galena, Rockford) for some typical Americana

April

• Boston, Massachusetts for Easter Weekend and to eat my favorite burrito in the whole world!
• Los Angeles (and, of course, West Hollywood) to attend the IGLTA conference and consumer trade show
• Two weeks around Andalusia including Seville for the annual Seville Feria
• Portugal for the very first time—the Algarve region and Lisbon